Modern day science and technology makes anything possible. Various foods we eat today contain genetically modified ingredients. Genetically modified foods derive from genetically altered characteristics which aren’t present naturally. Scientists change the plants' characteristics by putting new genetic material into them, genes for example from bacteria which can withstand pesticides. The method transfers selected individual gene from one organism into another. The technology is also known as “modern biotechnology”, “gene technology”, “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”.
Most of the time, GMO manipulates a plant or an organism for pest and herbicide resistance. When a farmer sprays pesticides on genetically mortified plant, the pesticide destroys the pest but it does not kill the plant. Herbicide chemicals are designed to kill weeds around the plant but without damaging the actual plant, because the plant is genetically altered to resist the herbicide.
GMO raises environmental, health, economic and ethical concerns. Most people oppose to GM foods, and insist on further investigations. Science plays an important role in our modern day society, but did it go too far with GMO?
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